WHITE BELT

Level of innocence and potential

Both black and white rarely if ever occur in their purest form in nature and so both phenomena are often regarded as non-colours. White reflects all light waves and absorbs none, because it already contains all light of the colour spectrum.
The white belt thus symbolises the potential of the new student to achieve the other grades. You have it in you and training will bring it out. Emerson reminds us: That only which we have within can we see without. . . All you dream for, all you hope for, is already hidden inside. It is like a precious stone, encrusted with layers of mud that need only be chipped away with the chisel of determination and faith.

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji Era (1868-1912),
received a university professor who came to enquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he could no longer restrain himself. 'It is
overfull. No more will go in!'
'Like this cup,' Nan-in said, 'you are full of your own opinions and speculations.
How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?'

Sosai Masutatsu Oyama takes his uchi-deshi in training three times weekly. As a sign of
dedication, new uchi-deshi shave their heads completely bald before their first
training session. The third year students accompany them in this ritual as a sign of
humility in shoshin, the returning to the spirit of the beginner.

White is a symbol of innocence. The new student at white belt level is said to be innocent, because he is completely ignorant of the requirements of the art and utterly lacking in experience of it. The white bell's heart is full of hope. From this hope sprouts the first enthusiasm to train and learn. This is the first emptying of the cup. Listen to the instructor, and learn to act reflexively according to his directions.

From the first sit-up, the absoluteness of the white belt is gone forever, so there is no turning back. The belt absorbs sweat and dust particles and loses its pristine color, and the journey upwards through the spectrum begins. Set goals in training and work tirelessly towards them.

Next to the black belt, the white belt is the most important of all in the life of the karate-ka. All the new techniques, all the rules and requirements of the dojo, all the new demands on the body and mind can bury the most important points of this level — with dedication your whole life can be changed forever, and the distance you can go is up to you and only you.

As a white belt there is no rush. Concentrate on learning the basic dojo guidelines of etiquette and develop the habit of attending training regularly. Work steadily on your fitness. Get used to the way the general training session progresses. Demonstrate to yourself that you are willing to make the required effort. No one minds that you cannot do a particular technique, but if you show that you are willing to do what it takes to learn, everyone will be happy to help. The unspoken rule of the dojo is that one is only recognized for one's willingness to make the effort. There is no shame in being a white belt. Wear it with pride. Even the instructor was a white belt once. Above all, try your hardest. That is all that is asked.

Human beings are capable of virtually limitless
degradation; they are also capable of virtually limitless
improvement and achievement. Success depends on goals
and on diligence in pursuing them.
                                   
                                                          Sosai Masutatsu Oyama